Thursday, September 26, 2013

Mesothelioma

Today is mesothelioma day! (It's okay I had no clue what it was either). Anyways, this is straight from the dictionary: Mesotheiloma:amalignanttumorofthecoveringofthelungortheliningofthepleuralandabdominalcavities,oftenassociatedwithexposureto asbestos.

I recently heard about this through a blog follower, who has a wife that is a rare survivor of this awful and very life threatening tumor. And this is what he said:

"I wanted to reach back out to you and let you know about a campaign that my wife and I have put together with the help of the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. September 26 is Mesothelioma Awareness Day, and we are trying to get 7200 voices talking and sharing about this rare cancer, to represent the 7200 hours that the average mesothelioma patient has to live.

As my wife is a rare survivor of mesothelioma, this day obviously means a lot to us. We aren’t asking for time, money, or donations of any kind, just voices to spread the word about this awful, and sadly little known cancer. I was hoping that you would help support our cause by posting a link to our campaign page, so that your readers can use their voices as well!

Here is the link, please let me know what you think when you get a chance to take a look. Your help would mean the world to us!

I'm sure everyone that reads my blog, can agree that cancer is awful in general, but especially if it could be prevented. Please help these friends of mine by sharing the word of Mesothelioma, especially today, bein Mesothelioma day and all!

GOOD LUCK HEATHER AND CAMERON. Prayers and good wishes are with you from me and followers of my blog!

Anyways, I haven't updated forever, and thought this would be the perfect opportunity as I had the night off! About two weeks ago I had my MRI:

They say everything looks normal in my back, BUT my brain tumor did grow, and needless to say, I am extremely scared. So please send a prayer my way. I started and finished my first round of Chemotherapy. It's an oral Chemo, which I take 5 out of every 28 days. It is called Temodar, or Temozolomide (or something like that).

My thoughts:

Atleast it's oral, but any chemo stinks. I have 23 day breaks, but I still don't know if it is working or not, and the whole thing is just scary.

Anyways that is what is new with me. Besides cancer in my life, I still have dreams, goals and ambitions (shocking I know) So I do have three part time jobs, and I am doing online school through BYU and I am going to 2 Institute classes. I may have cancer, but I'm definitely not going to let it stop me. Thank you to everyone who is making this life possible for me, and who continues to support and cheer me on, even though it feels like this fight is everlasting.

Oh and I am playing the piano at a benefit concert this weekend on Saturday for Teal's the Deal (a cervical cancer awareness group) everyone feel free to come support a good cause and see what should be an amazing performance. Thanks!

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, at Teal's The Deal awareness is VERY important to us. So we are joining with several UTAH Dancers and Studios for a Benefit Concert!

This will be a show you do not want to miss! We will be featuring some of the very best talented dancers in the state of Utah!

These dancers are joining together for an evening of incredible talent to support a great cause!

Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 7:00 pm

Ragan Theater - Utah Valley University

Go ONLNE and get your tickets NOW!

Anyways, I can do hard things:

Rach

PS I WENT TO THE REDWOODS.. another CHECK!

One of the first trees we saw in the park!

A Banana slug! They are actually really awesome!

Roots of a tree that fell, one that fell hit the ground so hard it registered on the rictor scale, and people actually thought there really was an earthquake!

They had some of the prettiest mushrooms I'd ever seen in Fern Valley!

Of course I had to put a picture of us driving through the tree! Anyways, I promise I am done now! Thanks for your prayers and your help sharing the word about Mesothelioma! (and DIPG and Glioblastomas of course!;))

You are so strong and brave, you really are. I admire you for doing everything you're doing, working, etc.You are truly inspiring. I pray for you often and my family and I check your blog hoping for good updates. I am sorry to hear about the setback with the tumor growing, but I have to commend you for handling everything with so much grace and strength. I have a friend who did the 5/23 Temodar. It sounds like you are getting the best care and taking the best course of action to fight this,

How cool are those redwoods! I can't get over the picture with you guys car driving through the tree! Always praying for you and your family! I hope school is going well!

In layman’s word brain cancer or tumor is the abnormal growth within brain. It includes in the central spinal canal. Basically it is the uncontrolled and abnormal cell division within the brain. I must you are true warrior. Your family and friends are really proud of you.

I love to read your blog, I hate to read your blog....it's so happy, and so heartbreaking too. Regardless, you continue to live, love, laugh, and believe. You live each day so beautifully. You can do hard things, and you inspire! Thank you.

Hello Rachele:I am new to your page, but read it and immediately felt what you are going through. July 2 2012 I lost my mother in law to Mesothelioma, started in the lungs and spread to the brain at the end. Ironically and probably why I connected so deeply to you when I read it was her name was Rachele Ventres, if it is Mesothelioma you should if you havent done so already file a case for exposure weather primary or second hand by coming in contact with someone close who worked with Asbestis. I have a wonderful lawyer handling our case. Rachele was a secondary exposure case, went through all the cemo but sadly passed just over a yr from being diagnoised.Now I am dealing with my husbands mesothelioma of the brain, he is only expected to survive till mayby January 2014.Anyway I just want to reach out to you with all my prays and love to you and yours.. God Bless.. if you would like to email I can be contacted at jupy1993@aol.com.

Mesothelioma cancer is hard to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to manifest themselves until the later stages of the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma lung cancer include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and other secondary illnesses such as pneumonia.gpwlaw-mi.com

Due to the long dormancy time of mesothelioma, the normal time of patients is somewhere in the range of 50 and 70 years. Mesothelioma influences men most because of the high presentation of asbestos in mechanical composed occupations.Click Here

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MRI

I tried making it easier to see, I don't think anyone gets it but the doctors, but that's my tumor. It is the dark area on the left side and goes just past the center, not the white dot. Even though it is on the left side in this picture it is actually in the right side of the brain stem.

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